Lee Stafford My Big Fat Tong

I've never really been one for hair curlers, I've always preferred to just use my straighteners to create a relaxed, wavy look. That is, until I tried these, the 'My Big Fat Tong' by Lee Stafford. It's amazingly ease to use, heats up quickly and is great for creating more of a retro curl look. 

After blowdrying my hair I just divided it into sections and curled it around the barrel, I set the look with a bit of hairspray and the curls lasted a good few days! It's definitely a look I'll go back to again and again when I want to feel a bit dressed up!

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Empties #10

I know, I know, it's been a while. Things have been super busy but I assure you I've not fallen off the face of the earth! I'm back with a nice long empties post to make up for it! As usual I'll be talking about all the products I've used up, what I thought of them and most importantly, whether or not I'll be repurchasing them!

Anatomicals Spray Misty For Me

This moisturising facial mist was given to me by a friend who wasn't too keen on it. I enjoyed using it as a toner but I definitely still prefer the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Repurchase? No.

Botanics 82% Organic Softening Cleanser

A lovely cream cleanser that feels a lot more expensive than it's £4 price tag. Equally good to use in the morning as in the evening to remove makeup. Repurchase? Yes.

MAC Studio Fix Powder

I'm not much of a powder wearer anyway but I particularly disliked this one, I found it to be far too heavy and cakey for my liking. It was such a pain to use up! Repurchse? No.

Avon Aero Volume Mascara

Another product I didn't get on too well with. It wasn't terrible but it just didn't do much for my lashes. Repurchase? No.

Rimmel ScandalEyes Mascara 

This mascara on the other hand, was brilliant! It lengthened, volumeised, curled and made my lashes look jet black. By far the best 'drugstore' mascara I've ever used. Repurchase? Definitely.

Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil

Another brilliant budget skincare product from Botanics. I used this a few times a week and loved the results, it plumped up and moisturised skin and helped even out my skin tone. Repurchase? Yes.

Sephora Exfoliating Cream Cleanser

I bought this cleanser quite a while ago and used it more as a mask to allow the exfoliating enzymes time to get to work. I enjoyed using it but have since found other masks that give me better results. Repurchase? No.

Lee Stafford Frizz Off Treatment

It's no secret that I love Lee Stafford products, I rave about them endlessly here on the blog but unfortunately this one wasn't for me. Although it did smooth out my hair a bit it didn't give it enough moisture or nourishment. This one would be great for those who have hair that's slightly unruly but not particularly dry. Repurchase? No.

Lee Stafford Shine Head Spray Shine

I've been using this hair shine spray for years and love it. I've lost count of the amount of times I've repurchased it. I have however recently discovered a similar product I love even more, the Argan Oil Anti Frizz Serum Spray (full review here) that one adds shine too but also moisturises hair, protects it against humidity, reduces frizz and I prefer the scent so I'll be buying it instead! Repurchase? No

Redken All Soft Supple Touch

A lightweight, cream textured, leave in conditioner. The product is lovely, it moisturises hair and controls frizz but the packaging is very annoying. The spray pump kept getting clogged up with product so I had to take it off and pour it into my hand. Not ideal! I'm not sure if this happens to all of them or if it was just mine but either way it meant I ended up using the product less often than I wanted too. Repurchase? No.

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream

I loved this hand cream, it was a mini that I got as part of a GWP that quickly became a handbag staple. It did everything a hand cream should do and smelt great too! Repurchse? Yes.

Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise

I was given this mini as a gift, it came in a set with a few other EL fragrances but this was the one that immediately stood out to me. I just love it! I've since bought the full sized version so I'll be doing a full on review soon. Repurchase? Already have!

The Body Shop Aloe Eye Defence

I seem to have used up a lot of budget skincare lately! This was a great sensitive skin friendly, hydrating eye cream that performed just as well as a lot of the high end eye creams I've tried. Repurchase? Yes.

Avon Naturals Lavender and Chamomile Room & Linen Spray

A relaxingly scented spray I spritz onto my pillow before bedtime, it relaxes me and sends me off to sleep. Maybe it's just phycological but who cares if it works! Repurchase? Yes.

What have you used up recently?

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Lee Stafford ArganOil Anti-Frizz Serum Spray

I feel like I'm forever going on about Lee Stafford styling products here on the blog but I just can't help it, they just perform so well compared to other hair brands, high street and high end.

Today I thought I'd shine the spotlight on their ArganOil from Morocco Anti-Frizz Serum Spray, I've mentioned it quickly in a few favourites posts but I've never spoken about it in detail, so here we go. As the name would suggest, it's a hair serum but in spray form, simple yet genius. I don't know why other brands haven't done this. It does everything a regular serum does, moisturises, smooths, calms frizz and adds shine but the spray allows the product to be distributively very evenly and finely. So there's no chance of accidentally adding too much serum in some areas and ending up with hair that looks a bit on the greasy side. Another thing I love about it is that it doesn't 'disrupt' your style, if you've already curled or styled it in someway you can just spritz a bit where needed so there's no need to run your fingers through. It's particularly great for naturally curly girls to use as a touch up product to refresh curls.

You also get a huge 200ml for £9.99 which is great value compared to other hair serums. This is definitely a product that will be going on my 'forever repurchased' list!

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Travel Body & Haircare

In my last post, I mentioned the skincare bits I'm taking away on holiday with me (you can read that one here) so today I thought I'd talk hair and body care! Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow if you fancy finding out what I'm taking makeup wise!

I'm not taking too much away with me body care wise as I'm only going for a week, I'm sticking to the basics! The Boots Extracts Mango Body Wash and Body Butter in miniature. I love the scent of these and the body butter is so moisturising and sinks into the skin really quickly. The Caudalie Divine Oil is a multitasking product that I love using but try not to use everyday. I'd go through it so quick if I did! I'm reserving it for slathering on limbs for evenings out, it gives skin a lovely, healthy, glow. I'm also taking The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter, not a body care product I know, but I couldn't resist including it with all the other mango stuff!

I seem to find haircare a bit more difficult to narrow down! I'm taking the Kerastase Chroma Riche Shampoo and Masque and the Lee Stafford Argan Oil Nourishing Miracle Oil which I spoke more about here. It's great for taming frizz and making everything a bit more managable! I'm also taking their Flat Iron Protection Mist, incase I decided to get the straighteners out, Living Proof Frizz Styling Cream to use pre blow-dry and Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Backcomb in a Bottle in case I need some extra volume!

What body and haircare items do you take away on holiday with you?

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July Favourites

I seem to have a huge amount of favourites this month, not sure how that happened! Here's what I've been loving.

Nip+Fab Yoga Blend Body Lotion - Full review here

Smells amazing, sinks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. It's very rare that a body lotion makes a difference to my skin as I use them all the time but this one definitely has!

Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil - Full review here

I've been using this on my post surgery scars as often as I remember. I'm not sure wether it's helping fade them or not but no harm in trying! Another product that smells good and leaves my skin feeling soft.

Dior Nail Varnish Tie & Dye - See it on my nails here

A bright orangey red that's been on my nails almost non stop. Plus it has a great glossy, long-lasting formula and an easy to use brush. 

The Body Shop Silky Camomile Cleansing Oil - Full review here

This stuff is amazing at removing makeup quickly and easily. It goes on as an oil, breaks down makeup and completely rises of on contact with water. It also leaves my skin feeling nice and soft, I think I'll be repurchasing this one for years to come!

Lee Stafford ARGANOIL from Morocco Nourishing Miracle Oil - Full review here

Having dry and frizz prone hair means hair oils are my number one styling product. This one moisturises hair making it easier to blow-dry, adds shine and controls frizz. It's also much cheaper than a lot of the others, definitely a winner! 

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti - See it on me here

I'm a huge fan of the lip butters and this is the shade I've been reaching for the most recently. It's a moisturising lip balm/lipstick hybrid that adds a tint of colour with one layer and can be built up for a stronger look. 

MUA Undressed Palette

I've had this palette for quite a long time but had completely forgotten about it until I rediscovered it recently. I've been particularly loving shade 6 & 7. I'll be doing a full review of this palette soon so make sure you keep an eye out if you're interested!

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream - Full review here

If I had to pick one favourite to rule all favourites this would be it. By far the best night cream I've ever tried, I've been using it for about 6 weeks and my skin feels softer and looks plumper and more even. It's also quite rich but sinks in really easily, a quality I always love in a product!

What have you been loving this month?

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Lee Stafford ARGANOIL from Morocco Nourishing Miracle Oil

My love of Lee Stafford hair styling products is no secret, I've spoken about many of them here on the blog, in particular the bits I've tried from the ARGANOIL from Morocco range. Most days I've just been leaving my hair in it's natural, curly state with some help from their Curl Creme (full review here), in an attempt to cut back on heat styling, but on days when I do reach for the hairdryer or straighteners, the Nourishing Miracle Oil has been my product of choice.

It's a really, soft and lightweight oil serum that feels weightless in the hair but still nourishes, smoothes and leaves it lovely and shiny. I distribute a few pumps into hair pre blow-dry and it just makes the whole process so much easier, I find my brush just glides through my hair with ease. I also sometimes use a tiny bit as a finishing product, half a pump smoothed onto ends or flyways just pulls the style together making everything look a bit more polished. 

When my hair is feeling particularly dry or lacklustre, I add a pump into my Curl Creme or my hair conditioner, I find this really adds a boost, making them work even harder. It's a great multifunctional product, great value for money and definitely comparable to it's high end equivalents! 

Have you tried any Lee Stafford products?

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May Favourites

May has been a bit of a horrible month for me as I've been ill for the last 2 weeks. When I'm ill anything even vaguely resembling a beauty or skincare routine goes out the window. Instead, I've been reaching for Lemsip, Strepsils and lots and lots of tea! That said, there are a few products that I was loving before I was ill as well as some really quick and easy to use ones!

First up is the Avon Ideal Flawless CC Cream, I've recently switched from wearing foundation to something a bit lighter on a day to day basis and I'm loving it. It's incredibly lightweight, blends really easily and has SPF50 as an added bonus! Expect a full review coming soon!

I have fallen head over heels for the formula of the Barry M Gelly Shine Nail Paints, particularly the shade Blueberry which I've been wearing on my toes non stop for the last couple of months as well as on my fingers for most of that time too!

I've been wearing my hair au naturel as of late thanks to a combo of 2 products, both from Lee Stafford. The first is the Argan Oil Curl Creme (full review here) which I've been working into just washed hair while its still wet. I then leave it to air dry and it's leaves me with perfectly formed curls. For next day frizz touch ups I've been spraying in some Argan oil Anti-Frizz Serum Spray which revives curls and leaves everything looking a bit smoother and glossier. 

Having a cold meant dry skin and lots of hot baths! I added a small scoop of coconut oil to my baths, not only is the fragrance amazing but it also meant I didn't have to faff around with body lotion afterwards. 

Aside from cleansing, the only thing I've been putting on my skin for the last 2 weeks is the Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil (full review here). I've been using it in the mornings and evenings and it's done my skin a world of good. I actually think my skin looks better now than before I was ill!

The last thing I've been loving is The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Lip Butter, it's been helping to moisturise my dry lips and it tastes smells delicious!

What products have you been loving this month?

Lee Stafford Argan Oil Curl Creme

My hair is naturally very curly but I haven't worn it that way in a really long time. I'm talking years! I always usually blow-dry it straight and then either straighten it or tong the ends. Years of doing this has left my hair in pretty bad condition so recently I've been attempting to use as little heat as possible on it. My only problem is, I've never been able to find a curl friendly hair product that's been quite right. They either leave my hair feeling crispy or don't really do anything at all, meaning in a couple of hours it turns into a frizzy mess. 

Understandably, I had pretty low expectations for the Lee Stafford Argan Oil Curl Creme, purely because nothing has really worked for me before. I was, however, completely blown away by it! The formula is spot on, not so thick that it weights the hair down but not so thin that it's just a runny liquid that goes all over the place. The bottle recommends using a grape sized amount but as my hair is quite thick and long, I've been using nearly a golf ball sized amount! I just run it through all of my hair, section by section, all the way from the roots to the tips. I then twist 2-3cm sections of hair between my fingers to 'form' the curl, this does take me a while but blowdrying my hair usually takes even longer so I don't really mind. I then leave it to dry naturally and I'm left with light, bouncy curls! 

I really can't believe how much this product has revolutionised the way I do my hair, I would definitely recommend it to anyone with natural waves or curls. The only downside is, as I need to use quite a lot, I'll probably be going though this bottle at lighting speed! I don't mind that too much though as it's not a particularly expensive product. 

What do you use to style your hair?

New from Lee Stafford

I've been a huge fan of Lee Stafford products ever since my teens so when I was invited to have breakfast with the man himself and have a nose through his new launches I was more than just excited! He has an amazing range of haircare and styling products sold at Boots and has now decided to add to it with a range of hairbrushes and styling appliances. 

The Chopstick Styler has been designed to create tight corkscrew curls, weather you're creating the look from scratch or you're a curly haired girl looking to touch up frizzy bits it's supposed to create smooth curls. Being a curly haired gal myself I can't wait to give it a try! 

Other exciting styling tools include a handy, fold up, travel friendly hair dryer and the rather strangle looking Grooved Waving Wand. Designed to create a more uneven and therefore natural looking curl the wand is infused with Argan Oil to condition hair as it curls.

And it does exactly what it says on the tin, here's Lee showing me how to use it at the breakfast.

And here's the end result, which I absolutely love. I was swishing my hair around all day! The wand seemed really easy to use so I'm hoping I can now recreate the look at home myself. 

I also got my hands on the Big Fattest Silky Smoother with Extra Oomphness round brush designed for big and bouncy blow-dries. As this is the kind of brush I usually use to blow dry, I curious to see how this one compares. 

They've also brought out a few new products, the ones I'm most excited about are the Frizz Off Range, designed for - believe it or not - frizz prone hair. Its sulphate free which is meant to be good for extending the life of Brazilian blow-dries. My hair is really frizzy so I think I'll be a good person to really put them to the test!

As with all products I like to use them for a while and feel like I'm giving them a really good try before reviewing them. So keep your eyes peeled if you want to see individual, in depth reviews as and when I've tried them out. 

Empties #7

Welcome to another Empties post where I talk about all the products I've used up, what I thought of them and whether or not I would repurchase them. 

First up is a trio from Boots Extracts, the Shower Gel, Sugar Scrub and Body Butter which I got together in a set in the Christmas sales. The Shower Gel is nothing fancy really, it does the job, but the Sugar Scrub (full review here) and Body Butter (full review here) are seriously amazing! The scrub really smoothes out the skin and leaves it feeling really silky and the body butter is really rich but sinks into the skin amazingly quickly. 

Repurchase? Shower Gel, Maybe. Sugar Scrub and Body Butter, Definitely!

Next, more body products, it's only when I do these empties posts that I realise how quickly I go through them! The Soap & Glory Smoothie Star is one that I unfortunately didn't like at all and found a bit of a chore to use up. I just didn't like the scent at all. On the other end of the scale was the Righteous Butter, also by Soap & Glory which I absolutely loved (full review here). It smells amazing and the rich formula really nourished my skin. 

Repurchase? Smoothie Star, No. Righteous Butter, Yes 

On to hair products, the Charles Worthington Salon at Home Moisture Seal Mineral Rescue Masque is one I just can't rave enough about. It featured in my recent favourites post and I also did a full review which you can see here. It's basically the best drugstore hair conditioner I've ever tried!

Repurchase? Already have

The Lee Stafford Dehumidifier is a product I've been using for such a long time but I'm starting to wonder if it's just out of habit or maybe not wanting to risk not using it! It's a spray that creates a moisture barrier on your hair to stop it frizzing up in damp or humid weather conditions. I may have to do a half hair test with this one!

Repurchase? Yes

I've been using chemical exfoliators on my face as of late instead of manual grainy scrubs and the results have been great. The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro Exfoliant Astringent Lotion (full review here) is one of those products. It has improved my skin texture a great deal. 

Repurchase? Maybe, there are a few others I'd like to try first.

Another product that I've absolutely loved is the Botanics Facial Oil (full review here) it's a great night time facial oil which contains some great ingredients. It's a great budget alternative to higher end versions and I find it's just as good! It's improved my skin texture and helped fade old blemish marks.

Repurchase? Definitely

Lastly, a lip balm from Avon in Orange Kiss, this balm smelt absolutely delicious! Especially to me as I have a bit of a weakness for orange/satsuma/mandarin scented products, but unfortunately that's where it ended. The balm didn't last very long at all on the lips and once it wore off it left them feeling drier than they were to start with. Such a shame!

Repurchase? No

What products have you used up recently?

Empties #6

It's empties time again, where I talk about what products I've used up lately and whether or not I'd repurchase them. I can't believe I'm on to the 6th one already! 

First up is the Avon Room & Linen Spray in Lavender and Chamomile, I've been using this stuff for ages and absolutely love it! I keep it on my bedside table and spritz a bit into the air before going to sleep, the scent is just so relaxing. Repurchase? Definitely

Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo Original is great to get a day or 2 more out of your blow-dry. It doesn't leave as much of a white cast or feel as powdery in the hair as some others can. Repurchase? Possibly at some point but there are a few others I want to try out first.

I did a full review of the Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter a while ago (see here), it smells delicious, softens lips really well but leaves a very unflattering pale cast on the lips, such a shame! Repurchase? No

As you can see, I haven't completely finished the Avon Gel Strength Base Coat, but what's left in the bottle (about 1/5) has gone so thick and gloopy that it can't be used. That said, most of the ones I've tried seem to do that and this one did a pretty good job before it got gloopy. Repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Absinthe Hand Cream was kept in the car and used constantly, it has a really moisturising formula that manages to feel really fresh on the skin and sink in quickly. Repurchase? Yes

The Avon Anew Lip Plumping Conditioner was unfortunately, a huge disappointment. The packaging is gorgeous but the product just didn't deliver. Moisture wise, it was ok, but it left a really thick, unflattering pale cast on the lips that for me makes it a big no-no. Repurchase? No

Benefit Hello Oxygen Flawless Wow Brightening Makeup is the only foundation I've been using for the past couple of months, full review here. It has medium coverage that is really buildable, plus the added SPF 25 is a bonus that makes it great for everyday. Repurchase? I already have another one on the go!

I tried out the Klorane Shampoo with Mango Butter a while ago (full review here) and thought it was really impressive for a budget shampoo. It leaves hair feeling clean but not stripped of all moisture. Since running out I've been using a Charles Worthington Shampoo which I think I prefer. Repurchase? Maybe

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes was another disappointing product, this stuff smudged like crazy. Even if you smudged it on purpose, after a few hours it would have travelled even further. Repurchase? No 

I like to get mini products for when I go away and Lee Stafford are great for that. I got the Hold Tight hairspray a while ago and it's lasted me a good few holidays. It did the job but didn't particularly blow me away. Repurchase? Maybe 

REVIEW: Lee Stafford Shine Head Spray Shine

I've mentioned my love of Lee Stafford hair products before, results wise, they're one of the best on the high street for styling products. Last week I spoke about their 'My Big Fat Root Boost', a supercharged volumising product which you can find out more about here.

Today I thought I'd give a shout out to their Shine Head Spray Shine, a product that I've been using since I was about 13! During the course of the last 11 years I've tried other shine spays, including ones from higher end brands and have always ended up coming back to this. Nothing has quite lived up to it!

Having naturally curly hair means it's default setting is to look a bit lacklustre and dull, so this is equally great when I'm going au natural or if I've straightened/waved my hair. By the time I've blow dried and straightened/waved my hair I find the mid lengths to ends can look a bit dry and straw like. I could add a bit of serum or styling oil at this point but every time I've done that in the past it has led to really weighing my hair down and caused any curls I've added in to drop at lightening speed. This spray is great for adding shine back into the hair but keeping all the volume in too. All you have to do is spray it on from about half an arms length away. Simple. Just make sure you only use in on the bottom half of your hair, no one wants shiny roots! 

One thing I have to mention about this product is the scent, it's got that distinct 'Lee Stafford product scent' which I can never quite put my finger on, sugary candy floss maybe? It's definitely a hate it or love it scent. I used to love it when I was younger but now I think I've grown out of it, it's a bit too sweet for my liking. That said I love the results the product gives so it definitely wouldn't stop me from using it!